Stuxnet Was 'Good Idea': Former CIA Chief

Monday Mar 5th 2012 by Datamation.com Staff

Share:

Former U.S. officials deny knowledge about who created and launched the cyberweapon.

AFP: On the CBS show "60 Minutes," two former top U.S. security officials expressed both admiration and concern about the Stuxnet virus. Retired general Michael Hayden, who previously headed the CIA and the NSA, said, "This was a good idea, alright?" He continued, "But I also admit this was a big idea, too. The rest of the world is looking at this and saying 'Clearly, someone has legitimated this kind of activity as acceptable.'"

Although many observers believe the U.S. or Israel was behind the cyberweapon, Hayden said he didn't know who created Stuxnet.

Sean McGurk, a former cybersecurity official in the Department of Homeland Security, expressed concern that Stuxnet or similar weapons would now be used against the U.S. "They opened the box," he said. "They demonstrated the capability... it's not something that can be put back."